Despite previous promises O'Donnell campaign remains silent

After Questions Were Raised About EPA Fundraiser in March, O'Donnell Was Forced to Come Clean

"O'Donnell, the Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District, has refused requests by the media, the state Democratic Party and Democratic opponent Ed Perlmutter to release the list of attendees." [Denver Post, March 16, 2006]

"The head of the Environmental Protection Agency was the featured guest at an intimate Denver fundraiser attended by representatives of industries regulated by his agency." [Denver Post, March 29, 2006]

"O'Donnell's spokeswoman says the campaign has invited Colorado reporters to a fundraiser next week that will be headlined by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, in an effort to demonstrate that no lobbying occurs at O'Donnell fundraisers." [Inside the EPA, May 1, 2006]

Following ethical and legal questions raised by a March fundraiser that united the EPA Administrator with representatives of the industries he regulates, Rick O'Donnell's campaign claimed to be willing to open their fundraisers to full scrutiny by inviting the press to their May special interest gathering with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. In keeping with their newfound spirit of openness and transparency, Rick O'Donnell owes the Colorado families he is asking to represent a list of the names of the attendees of Friday's fundraiser with the President so that they can be assured that, as O'Donnell's campaign has claimed, "no lobbying occurs at O'Donnell fundraisers."

"Given Rick O'Donnell's ethical missteps in the past, he owes Colorado families the assurance that he did not use Friday's fundraiser to sell access to special interest lobbyists," said Colorado Party Chairwoman Pat Waak. "In May, O'Donnell's campaign invited the press to a campaign fundraiser with a member of the executive branch to prove, despite evidence to the contrary, that ‘no lobbying occurs at O'Donnell fundraisers.' Now, Rick O'Donnell should live up to the standards of openness he set for his own campaign and release the names of the Bush fundraiser attendees."

Rick O'Donnell Has A History of Using His Campaign To Sell Access to Executive Branch Officials

In March, Rick O'Donnell held a fundraiser with the EPA Administrator that was attended by a small group of lobbyists and executives from the oil, gas and timber industries. O'Donnell initially refused to hand over the names of the attendees and the list was made public only after a Freedom of Information Act request was made of the EPA. The list revealed that only ten individuals had attended the fundraiser, all of whom had professional ties to the oil and gas industry and some of whom had immediate business pending before the EPA. Both the Colorado Democratic Party and Rep. John Conyers, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, filed Hatch Act complaints against the EPA Administrator for using his official title in the invitation to the event. [Denver Post, 3/29/06, Rocky Mountain News, 3/10/06; Denver Post, 3/14/06; Associated Press, 3/10/06; Associated Press, 3/16/06]

In May, the Office of Special Counsel Confirmed that They Were Looking Into the Complaints

"A spokesman from the Office of Special Counsel acknowledges that the office is looking into the complaints…" [Inside the EPA, May 1, 2006]